Rajapaksa gives mixed signals on support for Wickremesinghe
COLOMBO – Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa continues to give mixed signals on his party’s continued support for Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe; on the one hand commending the latter’s outburst at a foreign journalist and, on the other, criticizing price increases and hardships on the public.
Fielding questions from reporters on Wednesday (4), Rajapaksa said Wickremesinghe’s controversial interview with a Deutsche Welle (DW) journalist was “good”.
Reminded that he was someone who spoke firmly to foreign media and questioned what he made of Wickremesinghe now reaching that same level, Rajapaksa deemed it a good move and said, “It’s how it should be done”.
Questioned about Wickremesinghe’s insistence in the interview that no international investigation will be held into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, Rajapaksa, who is also leader of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said it was what the people were expecting as well.
Commenting on allegations made by UK’s Channel 4 relating to the Easter attacks, he said: “We can’t dance to the tune of Channel 4”
Rajapaksa also dismissed concerns about the controversial ‘online safety bill’ that was tabled in Parliament on Wednesday (4), noting that no one will raise their hand for it. The bill was tabled by an SLPP MP: Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles.
Amid reports of increased splintering within the SLPP, speculation has been rife of different factions of the once formidable party struggling to make up its mind on continued support for President Wickremesinghe.
Against this backdrop, Rajapaksa offered some thinly veiled criticism of the Wickremesinghe administration, despite the government comprising almost entirely SLPP MPs.
“That’s what we’re telling the government. The people are struggling. The people must be helped. That’s what we’re saying too,” he said.
Asked if he could not offer some advice to the incumbent president, Rajapaksa said: “The thing is, if our advice is sought, we can give it. You can’t force advice.”
The SLPP leader added that the parliamentary group of the party is also discussing reported plans to impose another power tariff hike.
-economynext.com
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